Dynamic Conversation Confidence

Gaining true confidence in the way you handle your daily conversations will enable you to appear as a powerful communicator and thus will enhance your networking abilities and gain you respect and trust.

When you are filed with fear you cannot start a conversation. You are filled with the fear of saying the wrong thing, the fear of not being listened to. Building great conversation skills will help you build strong relationships, bonds and lasting partnerships.

The fear to start a rock solid conversations often results from past negative experiences that have made you feel ‘worthless and unimportant’. These feelings have built up over the years through childhood experiences and friendships usually due to loss, failure and the challenges that you came across.

Giving voice to dominate our fears is the secret to breaking those bondages that hold us captive without achieving our aims, dreams, goals and desires.

Paving your way into a fearless conversation

 Plan ahead 

Plan ahead and prepare by rehearsing your thoughts, thinking about what you are going to say. Take your time and you can even write down your points arranging them in the order that you want your conversation to go. No matter to whom you are talking to, act like it’s your friend. Be relaxed and keep more eye contact.

Show interest in the other person

 The use of cognitive and strong body language (we will talk about this subject later) and a few follow up words is needed to show your interest.

Give ear. Intensive listening

 Whilst you are listening, avoid planning your next statement otherwise this will destruct your focus.

Smile 

Avoid looking nervous, relax and smile, be sociable. People love those who smile and they easily bond with them. Smiles make people feel free and comfortable around you. Do not grin

Ask open ended questions 

Questions show interest and you can easily start by asking them about themselves. Questions make an open conversation stretch longer, they keep the conversation going. 

Practice self-expression

 Practice expressing yourself in words by painting clear images about the subject in the minds of your audience. Practice makes perfect. Communicate your opinions, feelings and emotions in words.

Tell a story 

Know and always be packed with some stories that will help you kick start your conversation. Funny stories from past experiences, past vocational holiday, fiction and fairy tales. Do not divert your focus off topic, use stories that help and go along, hand in hand with the conversation.

Maintain eye contact 

A lack of eye contact shows lack of interest. In every conversation it’s so essential and very important to keep eye contact, keeping focus on whom you are conversing with. Eye contact indicates acknowledgement and acceptance of the subject.

Show your feelings 

Your body language (non-verbal communication), what is it saying. Body language is important in keeping conversations going. Action speaks louder than words. You can also show your feelings verbally for example: in a happy mood, you can say – wow; something bad – oh no! In sympathy – sorry; in death – my condolences.

Avoid waffling 

Be clear and direct on what you are saying. Do not keep on repeating the same thing over and over again otherwise the other person will lose interest or will end up getting confused. Get straight to the point. 

Be interesting 

Keep up to date with current affairs and any time in a conversation spice it up

Use humour 

Conversations without humour builds tension. You can avoid tension by kidding a little. Do you have something funny to say, say it. Be natural, filled with jokes and quotes.

Pace your conversations 

Some people talk fast whilst others prefer slow conversations that allows words to flow through naturally and thoughtfully. Avoid saying what comes first into your head. Take your time to self-edit your thoughts before you lay them out to someone.
Acquiring good conversation skills are an essential tool of building rock solid confidence.